This site is not affiliated with Facebook; this is an independent explanation.
Facebook not working typically appears as a feed that will not refresh, a spinning circle on the home screen, photos that stay grey, a login that loops back to the start, or a message saying that an unexpected error occurred. Messenger and Marketplace can fail while the main feed still loads, because they lean on separate parts of the service.
Before you change any setting, work out who is affected. A short service problem hits millions of people at once and fixes itself, while an app, account or connection problem sits only on your side. The sections below separate these cases and give you fixes for each, from quick checks to the less common issues such as broken share links.
Common causes
1A service problem at Facebook's end
How to tellFriends also say the feed or Messenger is down, and both app and browser fail
What fixes itWait and check again after a while; nothing on your phone will help
2Poor connection
How to tellText loads but photos and videos stay blank, or posts fail to send
What fixes itMove from Wi-Fi to your cellular plan (or back), then drag the feed down to reload
3Old app version
How to tellApp shuts at launch, or says an unexpected error occurred
What fixes itInstall the newest version from the app store
4Overgrown cache or corrupt app data
How to tellFeed shows old posts, buttons do nothing, app lags
What fixes itClear the cache, then data if needed, and sign in again
5Phone date, time or storage problem
How to tellSecure connection errors or the app refuses to open
What fixes itLet the clock set itself from the network, and free some storage
6Account security check
How to tellLogin asks for an identity step, or the account seems locked
What fixes itFollow the on-screen recovery steps from the official login page only
7Link preview not refreshed
How to tellA shared link shows a wrong picture or fails to post
What fixes itWait, edit the link slightly, or post it from a browser
How to fix it, step by step
See whether others report the same
Message a friend and ask if their feed loads. Look at the status posts of the company on a different platform or a general outage tracking page. If many people are affected, stop troubleshooting and try again later.
Open the site in a browser
Type the web address into your phone browser and log in. If the site works, the problem sits inside the installed app. If it also fails, your network or the service is at fault.
Refresh the connection
Toggle flight mode for a few seconds, or forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi. If the page loads but images do not, the signal is probably weak. A router that has been on for weeks benefits from a power cycle.
Force stop and reopen the app
On Android, find the app in the application list and press Force stop. On iPhone, swipe the app away from the app switcher. Relaunch and watch whether the feed returns.
Update, then check the phone clock
Look for a newer app version in your phone's app store. Then open the phone settings and confirm date and time follow the network automatically, since a wrong clock breaks secure connections.
Wipe the saved cache
On Android, the Storage area of the app listing holds a Clear cache button. Use it first. Only if problems stay should you clear data as well, which signs you out. On iPhone, reinstall the app instead.
Log out and in again
Use the account menu in the app to sign out, then sign in. If a login code does not come, check signal and message storage, and never type a code into any page you opened from a message link.
Disable battery saver and data saver
Saving modes can stop the app from loading in the background, which leads to missing posts and late messages. Switch them off for a test.
Facebook not working today: reading the signs
When the whole service has a problem, the signs repeat across many people: the feed never refreshes, Messenger does not send, and the browser version fails as well. When only your phone has the problem, the browser version usually still works and friends can see their feeds as normal.
You open the app and the feed shows An unexpected error occurred with a Retry button. Retry twice. If it keeps appearing and the website works in the browser, refresh the app version and empty its cache. If the website fails too, wait.
For the wider picture on a message like this, read an unexpected error occurred.
Messenger not working but Facebook opens
Messenger runs as its own app or its own part of the main app, so it can break alone. Check that you can still receive messages from someone else, that the app has permission to send notifications, and that you are logged into the right account. Update Messenger separately from the main app. If messages stay on a clock icon, your connection is dropping them, so try mobile data.
App problem versus network problem
| Clue | Points to | Try |
|---|---|---|
| Every app is slow | Internet | See internet not working |
| Only this app is slow | App data | Update and clear cache |
| Web works, app does not | App | Reinstall the app |
| Nothing works for friends too | Service | Wait |
Keeping your account safe while troubleshooting
Only log in through the installed app or the real website address you typed yourself. Messages that say your page will be shut down unless you click a link are scams. Never share login codes or passwords. If your account is locked, use the official recovery option inside the app, and see the main guide to broken apps and sites for general fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Facebook not working today?
The service may be having a short problem, or your phone may be. Check whether friends can load their feeds and whether the website works in a browser.
Why is my Facebook not working on my phone?
Common causes are an old app version, a full cache, weak internet or low storage. Refresh the app version, empty its cache and test on another connection.
Why is Facebook not working today in India?
If many people near you report problems, it is a service or network issue and only waiting helps. If friends are fine, check your own connection and app.
Why is Messenger not working?
Messenger can fail alone. Update it, check notification permission, sign out and in, and try mobile data if messages stay on the clock icon.
Why is FB Marketplace not working?
Check location access, update the app and make sure your account has no restriction notice. If the listings are empty only in one area, try again later.
Why does Facebook say an unexpected error occurred?
It is a generic message for a failed request. Retry, update the app, clear the cache, and check if the browser version works.